Dombey and Son in Never too Late to Read Classics

May 05, 2021 Sara rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 19th-century-literature, kindle-purchase, victorian, family, classics, literary-fiction, favorites

Charles Dickens, more than any other author I know of, has come to symbolize his times; with barely a person alive today who would not equate Victorian England with Dickens, if only through his book, A Christmas Carol. Many of his books are very well-known and still frequently taught and read, but Dombey and Son is one that I would count as more obscure. Having now read it, I wonder why. It is a remarkable piece of literature, emblematic of the coming of the Industrial Age, and loaded with every Charles Dickens, more than any other author I know of, has come to symbolize his times; with barely a person alive today who would not equate Victorian England with Dickens, if only through his book, A Christmas Carol. Many of his books are very well-known and still frequently taught and read, but Dombey and Son is one that I would count as more obscure. Having now read it, I wonder why. It is a remarkable piece of literature, emblematic of the coming of the Industrial Age, and loaded with everything that makes Dickens so unique.

I read this in much the way Victorian readers would have done, because I read it one chapter a day with a terrific group, Dickensians!. Of course, even this was accelerated reading, the Victorians would have gotten it over a much longer spread, since Dickens released it in 20 monthly installments.

This is primarily the story of Mr. Dombey, a man obsessed with his company and money, and his desire to leave his kingdom to a male heir. Dombey has his heir in the first chapter of the novel, a lovely boy named Paul, a child he worships, but he also has a daughter, Florence, whom he resents and mistreats abominably. This is a dysfunctional household and family, made more pitiful by the death of the mother with the birth of the son, and we are given to see that much more clearly by Dickens’ presenting us with two other households that are nowhere near as wealthy, but contain all the loving relationships this one is missing. In many ways, this is Florence’s story...the story of a daughter, not a son.

In the course of this novel, Dickens addresses pride, deceit, the value of love over money, child to parent relationships, the degradation of the human soul, unrequited love, the insufferability of blowhards, retribution, revenge, and reclamation. If I took a few minutes, I could probably make another list just as long of themes he explores, for he explores the human condition in all its glory and shame. He accomplishes this through an array of unforgettable characters, the proud and beautiful Edith, the evil James Carker, the delightful Toodles, precious Captain Cuttle, strong Susan Nipper, devoted Mr. Toots, and the faithful Walter and Uncle Sol.

One of the things I most appreciated about this story was Dickens' ability and willingness to depict strong women and to show that strength does not exclude deep or motherly feeling. On the other hand, he also showed us some mothers who were unfit to raise kittens, let alone children. Dickens is never afraid of any level of society or any emotion, showing a balanced view of upper and lower classes, and men and women, that I believe was rare in his time.

In addition to loving this book, I must say how much more interesting and meaningful it was to read it with the Dickensians! group. Our leader, the inimitable Bionic Jean, is a wealth of information on both Dickens and his era. She adds another level of understanding to all of his works, and it is a privilege to be allowed to read and discuss with so many intelligent and informed readers. The last time I got this kind of background and information from a group, I was in college and they were making me pay for the course. But, far from feeling like I was sitting in a stuffy classroom, this kind of reading is so, so much fun. I am glad to have now read Dombey and Son. I have four more Dickens novels to read before I can say I have read them all. I have read many of his novels more than once, and I imagine I will be reading them until I take my last breath, because, read them as often as you will, never can you say you have gleaned everything Dickens has to offer. ...more

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Jul 21, 2021 Laura (Reading is a Doing Word) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: classics-trad-and-modern, books-i-own, 2021-read, dickens

This is the 7th book in my #ayearofdickens2021 challenge.

I was immediately drawn into this story and found this a more instantly engaging and engrossing read than many of the preceding Dickens books I’d read.

The plot centres around Mr Paul Dombey Snr, his daughter Florence and his son Paul Dombey Jnr. Filled with a deep sense of pride and his place in society, Mr Dombey longs for a son to follow in his footsteps in running his shipping house Dombey & Son. His elder child, Florence is sadly negle ...more

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May 06, 2021 Shirley (stampartiste) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-classics, challenge-bingo-2021, favorite-author-dickens-charles

Of the four Charles Dickens novels I have read so far, I was quite surprised that this one turned out to be my favorite, considering I had never heard of it before reading it with the Dickensians! Goodreads group. It is such a wonderful story, and my enjoyment of it was greatly enhanced by all of the research that Bionic Jean, the moderator, presented to us daily as well as the wonderful perspectives left in comments by the members of the group. I thank you so much!

What made Dombey and Son so sp ...more

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Sep 16, 2012 Anna Kļaviņa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: rakstnieks, historical-fiction, classic, read-in-2014, british-irish

My copy:Dombey and Son doesn't have notes at the end of the book, which I've found useful and interesting bonus material in Penguin Classic books.

Dealings with the Firm of Dombey and Son: Wholesale, Retail and for Exportation published in monthly parts from 1 October 1846 to 1 April 1848 and in one volume in 1848.

Favourite character: James Carker (the manager) and honorable mention to Miss Tox, Mrs Pipchin, Susan Nipper, Robin Toodle
Favourite couples: Miss Nipper/Mr Toots, Mr Carker/Mrs Dombey ...more

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Mar 19, 2014 Victoria Evangelina Allen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: in-english, favorate, fiction, in-russian, man-and-woman

I just can't believe that I discovered Dickens just now! Yes, it is my first book by him, and I am totally and completely in love with his writing! Both, the original English and the Russian translation. ...more

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